The hashtags #WontGiveItBack and #BleedBlue have been trending on social media for a while now, ever since team India launched its campaign at the ICC Cricket World Cup that’s underway in Australia and New Zealand. Even Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer is on it, batting for India online and in spirit.
Here in Technopark too cricket fever is ‘bleeding blue’, so to speak, especially after defending champions, India’s resounding victory over Pakistan in its maiden game at the contest, where 14 teams will battle it out for the top spot, over the next month and a half.
Techie Arun P. Mani, an associate software developer, believes there’s reason for India to cheer even if rather premature to predict the winner, given the contest has only just begun.
“India’s USP is that it has a relatively young team who mean business. It’s true that only M.S. Dhoni, R. Ashwin, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli have World Cup experience, however the team has a crop of youngsters who know how to play in accordance with the situation. They already got the Champions Trophy, led by Dhoni with a young team, and fingers crossed they’ll be able to retain the World Cup,” he explains.
Abhijit N. Shaji, another associate software developer, is not as much optimistic. “We have only played one game and that too against a side that’s not in top form. Our batting line-up is great, especially now that we’ve Shikar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma as solid openers, backed up by Kohli in third position. However, I feel that our bowling is at a disadvantage, especially when compared to the pace bowlers of Australia and New Zealand bowl at amazing lengths, which is needed for wickets Down Under. And that may be just be the thing that sends us back empty handed. In the next game against South Africa, a colossus if any, we’ll really how the line-up fares,” he explains.
Techie Ramakrishnan K. too is cautious about jumping the gun. “India's performances leading up to the World Cup have not been all that great. Our key batsmen Kohli and Raina are in top form, as we saw in the opener. But I don't know if that's all we need. I have a feeling that Australia have home advantage and may just carry home the Cup, with India and South Africa being the other possibilities.”
The odd timings of the matches do come as a dampener, say techies, as most of games happen during day time in India when most of people are at work.
Never fear, smart phones are here, says newbie techie Unni T.V. “My friends and I have all downloaded apps which give real time updates of the matches. It’s not as exciting as watching a match unfold live but it does keep us in the loop. Also, we do have access to news websites like The Hindu , which also have live updates. I am, however, really looking forward to watching India’s matches with all my hostel mates,” he says.
Unni’s in luck, India’s next two matches – against South Africa and United Arab Emirates – are on weekends. “It’s so much more fun to watch the game with friends. We always have a blast watching the game, cheering and discussing the play,” he says.
The next two are on a Tuesday and Friday. “Depending on how well we play in the upcoming matches, may be I’ll take leave. I am a fan of cricket as much as I am a fan of team India. What I’m going to miss out on is watching other teams play. Ireland, for example, is having a spectacular innings,” says Abhijit.
